Festivals and celebrations课文

Festivals

and

celebrations

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the e

nd of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn. Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals. At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months. Today's festivals have many origins, some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events. 自古以来，世界各地就有各种各样的节日和 庆典。大多数古老的节日都是庆祝严寒的结 束，春季的种植和秋天的收割。有时，当猎 人捕获猎物后，也举行庆祝活动，在那个时 代，如果食物难以找到，特别是在寒冷的冬 天，人们会挨饿。现在的节日有很多由来， 一些事宗教上的，一些是季节性的，一些是

纪念特殊的人和事件的。 Festivals of the Dead Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors, who might return either to help or to do harm. For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors. They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth. In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November. On this important feast day, people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with "bones" on them. They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead. The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people. It is now a children's festival, when they can dress up and go to their neighbours' homes to ask for sweets.

If the neighbours do not give any sweets, the children might play a trick on them. 亡灵节 有些节日，是为了纪念死者，或使祖先得到 满足， 因为祖先们有可能回到世上 （给人们） 提供帮助，也有可能带来危害。在日本的梦 兰盆节，人们要扫墓、烧香，以缅怀祖先。 他们还点起灯笼，奏响乐曲，因为他们认为 这样做可以把祖先引回到世上。在墨西哥， 亡灵节是在11月初。在这个重要的节日里， 人们会吃制成颅骨形状的食物，和装点有骨 头的蛋糕。他们向亡者祭献食物、鲜花和礼 品。万圣节也源自人们古老的信念，认为亡 者的灵魂会返回人间。万圣节如今成了孩子 们的节日，这天他们可以乔装打扮到邻居家 要糖吃。如果邻居什么糖也不给，孩子们就 会捉弄他们。 Festivals to Honour People Festivals can also be held to honour famous people. The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous

ancient poet, Qu Yuan.In the USA, Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain India's independence from Britain. 纪念名人的节日 也有纪念名人的节日。中国的端午节（龙舟 节） ，是纪念古代著名诗人屈原的。美国的 哥伦布日是纪念克里斯托弗哥伦布发现 “新大陆”的日子。印度在10月2日有个全 国性节日，纪念默罕达斯甘地，他是帮助印 度摆脱英国的统治而独立的领袖。 Harvest Festivals Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events. People are grateful because their food is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over. In European ountries, people will usually decorate churches and town halls

with flowers and fruit, and will get together to have meals. Some people might win awards for their farm produce, like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster. China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals, when people admire the moon and in China, enjoy mooncakes. 庆丰收的节日 收获与感恩节是非常喜庆的节日。过冬的粮 食收集起来了，农活结束了，人们都心怀感 激。在欧洲国家，人们通常用花果来装饰教 堂和市政厅，在一起聚集。有些人还可能因 为他们的农产品（参加各种评选）而获奖， 比如最大的西瓜或最帅的公鸡。中国和日本 都有中秋节，这时，人们会赏月。在中国， 人们还品尝月饼。 Spring Festivals The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. At the Spring Festival in

China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals, which take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians around the world. It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as though it is covered with pink snow. People love to get together to eat, drink and have fun with each other. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our